The properties of some substitute bearing alloys

Abstract

A bearing is a means for supporting a load between rela-tively moving surfaces with as little friction as possible .' The plain bearings, used in the automobile , aircraft and other engineering industries, consist of two surfaces, the shaft and the hearing, generally separated by a film of lubricant. The so-called bear- ing alloys utilised for the purpose have to satisfy some primary requirements such as suitable chemical make up giving rise to a hard constituent embedded in a soft matrix , and a certain range of physical ( melting point , density, thermal conductivity, etc.) and mechanical (hardness , modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, impact resistance and age-hardening characteristics) properties. Besides these, certain service properties such as wear, seizure-resistance , conformability , embeddability corrosion-resistance, etc. are also to be complied with.